Shell and Equinor to create the UK’s largest independent oil and gas company

Equinor UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Equinor ASA and Shell UK Limited, a subsidiary of Shell plc are to combine their UK offshore oil & gas assets and expertise to form a new company which will be the UK North Sea’s biggest independent producer, the companies announced on Thursday.

The incorporated joint venture (IJV) will be set up to sustain domestic oil and gas production and security of energy supply in the UK, Equinor and Shell said.

On deal completion, the new independent producer will be jointly owned by Equinor (50%) and Shell (50%), two leading global energy companies with decades of experience operating in the UK North Sea. With the once prolific basin now maturing and production naturally declining, the combination of portfolios and expertise will allow continued economic recovery of this vital UK resource. The new company will be more agile, focused, cost-competitive and strategically well positioned to maximise the value of its combined portfolios on the UK Continental Shelf, the companies said.

Long-term future

The new company will invest to provide a long-term future for the individual oil and gas fields and platforms, helping extend the life of this crucial sector for the benefit of the UK. Based in Aberdeen, the heart of the nation’s energy sector, the joint venture will include Equinor’s equity interests in Mariner, Rosebank and Buzzard, and Shell’s equity interests in Shearwater, Penguins, Gannet, Nelson, Pierce, Jackdaw, Victory, Clair and Schiehallion. A range of exploration licenses will also be part of the transaction.

“Equinor has been a reliable energy partner to the UK for over 40 years, providing oil and gas, developing the offshore wind industry, and advancing decarbonisation,” Equinor’s Executive Vice President for Exploration and Production International, Philippe Mathieu, said in a statement.

“This transaction strengthens Equinor’s near-term cash flow, and by combining Equinor’s and Shell’s long-standing expertise and competitive assets, this new entity will play a crucial role in securing the UK’s energy supply,” he added.

Both Equinor and Shell are proud to continue the development of the North Sea as investing partners rather than individual operators, opening a new chapter in which they will remain significant players in the UK energy sector.

Following completion, the new company will be self-funded – Equinor’s ownership stake will be equity accounted, and no organic capital expenditures related to this investment will be reported by Equinor. This transaction enables Equinor to benefit from increased short-term production and cash flow. The more balanced ownership structure of the assets also contributes to reduced overall risk exposure.

Shell’s Integrated Gas and Upstream Director, Zoë Yujnovich, commented: “Domestically produced oil and gas is expected to have a significant role to play in the future of the UK’s energy system. To achieve this in an already mature basin, we are combining forces with Equinor, a partner of many years. The new venture will help play a critical role in a balanced energy transition providing the heat for millions of UK homes, the power for industry and the secure supply of fuels people rely on.”

The transaction will come into effect on January 1, 2025, and its completion remains subject to approvals and is expected by the end of 2025.